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2_JEE Maths_Application of Derivatives_Increasing & Decreasing Functions

The document explains the definitions and characteristics of increasing and decreasing functions, including their behavior over intervals and at specific points. It also discusses the use of derivatives to determine whether a function is increasing or decreasing, along with the concept of critical numbers and intervals of increase or decrease. The first derivative test is outlined to identify these properties mathematically.

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Dhurga Murugan
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5 views

2_JEE Maths_Application of Derivatives_Increasing & Decreasing Functions

The document explains the definitions and characteristics of increasing and decreasing functions, including their behavior over intervals and at specific points. It also discusses the use of derivatives to determine whether a function is increasing or decreasing, along with the concept of critical numbers and intervals of increase or decrease. The first derivative test is outlined to identify these properties mathematically.

Uploaded by

Dhurga Murugan
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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Increasing and Decreasing Function:

A function is said to be an increasing function if the value of y increases


with the increase in x. As we can see from the above figure that at the right of
the origin, the curve is going upward as we are going to the right so it is
called Increasing Function.
A function is said to be a decreasing function if the value of y decreases
with the increase in x. As above, in the left of the origin, the curve is going
downward if we are moving from left to right.

Definition of Increasing Function


This is the definition of a function which is increasing on an interval.

If there is a function y = f(x)


 A function is increasing over an interval, if for every
x1 and x2 in the interval,
x1 < x2, f( x1) ≤ f(x2)
 A function is strictly increasing over an interval, if for every x1 and x2 in the
interval,
x1 < x2, f( x1) < f(x2)
There is a difference of symbol in both the above increasing functions.

Definition of Decreasing Function


If there is a function y = f(x)
 A function is decreasing over an interval , if for every x1 and x2 in the interval,
x1 < x2, f( x1) ≥ f(x2)

 A function is strictly decreasing over an interval, if for every x1 and x2 in the


interval,
x1 < x2, f( x1) > f(x2)
There is a difference of symbol in both the above decreasing functions.
Definition of Increasing and Decreasing function at a point
Let x0 be a point on the curve of a real valued function f. Then f is said to be
increasing, strictly increasing, decreasing or strictly decreasing at x0, if there
exists an open interval I containing x0 such that f is increasing, strictly increasing,
decreasing or strictly decreasing, respectively in I.
If there is a function f and interval I = (x0 – h, x0 + h), h > 0
 It is said to be increasing at x0 if f is increasing in (xo - h, x0 + h)
x1 < x2 in I ⇒ f(x1) ≤ f(x2)
 It is said to be strictly increasing at x0 if f is strictly increasing in (x0 - h, x0 +
h)
x1 < x2 in I ⇒ f(x1) < f(x2)

 It is said to be decreasing at x0 if f is decreasing in (xo - h, x0 + h)


x1 < x2 in I ⇒ f(x1) ≥ f(x2)
 It is said to be strictly decreasing at x0 if f is strictly decreasing in (x0 - h, x0 +
h)
x1 < x2 in I ⇒ f(x1) > f(x2)
How derivatives are used to find whether the function is
Increasing or Decreasing Function?
We can use the first derivative test to check whether the function is increasing or
decreasing.

Theorem
Let f be continuous on [a, b] and differentiable on the open interval (a, b). Then

(a) If f′(x) > 0 for each x ∈ (a, b) then f is increasing in interval [a, b]
(b) If f′(x) < 0 for each x ∈ (a, b) then f is decreasing in interval [a, b]
(c) If f′(x) = 0 for each x ∈ (a, b) then f is a constant function in [a, b]

This can be proved with the help of mean value theorem.

Proof:
Let x1, x2 ∈ [a, b] such that x1 < x2
Now we can prove it with the help of Mean value theorem, which says that there
is a point c between x1 and x2 so that
Let x1, x2 ∈ [a, b] such that x1 < x2
Now we can prove it with the help of Mean value theorem, which says that there
is a point c between x1 and x2 so that

a. Let fꞌ(c) ≥ 0

Hence, f is an increasing function.

b. Let fꞌ(c) ≤ 0

Hence, f is a decreasing function.

c. Let fꞌ(c) = 0
Hence, f is a constant function.

1. f is strictly increasing in (a, b) if f ' (x) > 0, ∀ x ∈ [a, b]

2. f is strictly decreasing in (a, b) if f ' (x) < 0, ∀ x ∈ [a, b]

3. f is increasing or decreasing on R if it is increasing or decreasing in every interval of R

What is constant function?


Constant function is a horizontal line.

As we know that the derivative is zero and y is always 4 in the above figure. This
is the graph of line with one variable.

If we talk about curve, the function will be constant if its fꞌ(c) = 0.


Here in the above figure, at green points the curve is neither increasing nor
decreasing. The slope of the curve is zero at these points. It could be the highest
or the lowest point of the curve in its neighborhood.

Definition of Critical Numbers


The Critical Numbers for a function f are those numbers c in the domain of f for
which fꞌ(c) = 0 or does not exists.
A critical point is a point whose x coordinate is the critical number c and the y
coordinate is the f(c).
What are intervals of increase and decrease?
Interval is basically all the numbers between given two numbers.

If we talk about curve, we can say the portion of curve which is coming in
between the two given numbers on the x-axis is the required interval.

As in the above figure,


Interval Type of function

(-5,-2) Increasing

(-2,1) Constant

(1,3) Increasing

(3,5) decreasing

Calculation of intervals of increase or decrease


To calculate the intervals of increase or decrease function, we need to follow
some steps:

 First of all, we have to differentiate the given function.

 Then solve the first derivative as equation to find the value of x.

o The first derivative: f'(x) = 0.


 Form open intervals with the values of the x which we got after solving the
first derivative and the points of discontinuity.

 Take a value from every interval and find the sign they have in the first
derivative.

o If f'(x) > 0 is increasing.

o If f'(x) < 0 is decreasing.

 Write the intervals of increase and decrease:

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